Trail-carriage gun mounted on endless tracks for varying the height of the line of fire of the gun



E. SCHNEIDER.

THA|L CARRIAGE GUN MOUNTED 0N ENDLES S TRACKS FOR VARYING THE HEIGHT 0F THF LINE OF FIRE OF THE GUN.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 10,1922- QatentedSept. 12, 1922. I3 SHEETSSHEET lv /3,r/ v ////I E.-SCHN E|DER. TRAIL CARRIAGE GUN MOUNTED 0 N ENDLESS TRACKS FOR-VARYING THE HEIGHT OF THE LINE QF FIRE OF THE GUN- APPLICATION men JULY 10.1922,

' Patented Sept. 12, 1922 "1s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A f; fro rneys E. SCHNEIDER;

TRAIL CARRIAGE GUN MOUNTED 0N ENDLESS TRACKS FOR VARYING THE HEIGHT OF THE LINE OF FIRE OF THE GUN.

APPLICATION HLED JULY |0.1922.

PatentedSept. 12, 1922.

I 3 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ttorneys E. SCHNEIDER,

V TRAIL'CARRIAGEG UN MdUNTED 0N ENDLESS TRACKS FOR VABYING THE HEIGHT -OF. THE LINE OF FIREDF THE GUN.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 1 0, I922.

PatentedSe pt. 12,1922.

I3 SHEETSSHEET 3- ftarn ys v E. SCHNEIDER. -TRAIL CARRIAGE GUN MOUNTED 0N ENDLESS TRACKS FOR VARYING THE HEIGHT 7 OF THE LINE OF FIRE OF THE GUN.

APPLICATION HLEU JULY 10,1922. 1 429 109 7 Patggtedsept. 12, 1922.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 5- ttor'n/egj-s E. SCHNEIDER. TRAIL CARRIAGEGUN MOUNTED 0N ENDLESS THANKS FOR VARYING THE HEIGHT OF THE LINE OF FIRE OF THE GUN.

APPLICA'IION mu) JULY 10.1922.

1,429,109, PatentedSept. 12,1922.

\ l3 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

I I Mentor E Q z I l m m QMA M MW A tfiorneya R E. SCHNEIDER. TRAIL CARRIAGE GUN MOUNTED 0N ENDL ESS TRACKS FOR VARYING THE HEIGHT 0F THE'UNE OF FIRE OF THE GUN.

APPLICAHON FILED JULY 10.1922.

Patented Sept. 12,1922.

I3 SHEETS-SHEET 7- Q a. (659); w Q- 6 Q N & w.

, J inu entor Attorneys E. SCHNEIDER. TRAIL CARRIAGE GUN MOUNTED 0N ENDLESS TRACKS-FOR VARYING THE HEIGHT OF THE LINE OF FIRE OF THE GUN. APPLICAHON HLED JULY 10. 1922.

PatentedSept. 12,1922.

I3 SHEETS-SHEET 8- I E. SCHNEIDER. IRAIL CARRl AGE GUN' MOUNTED of ENDLESS TjRAcKs FOR VARYING THE HEIGHT OF THE LIN OF H E F THE eu i I APPLICKHON FILED JULY 10,1922. 1 ,429,109, PatentedSept. 12, 1922.

l3 SHEETS-SHEET 9- WAN W A 6307* "Ave/3&5

I3 SHEETS-SHEET 10- we're tar I rn a l/2' v E. SCHNEIDER. TRAIL CARRIAGE GUN MOUNTED 0N ENDLESS TRACKS FOR VARYING THE HEIGHT OF THE LINE OF FIRE OF THE GUN. I

I APPLICATION HLED .IULY I0. 1922. 1,429,109.

' PatentedSept. 12, 1922.

i3 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

By I

74Lawu akmuu H iku llttorTl/yfi E. SCHNEIDER. I TRAIL CARRIAGEGUN MOUNTED 0N ENDLESS TRACKS FOR VARYING THE HEIGHT or THE LINE OF FIRE OF THE sun. APPLICA'HQN FILED JULY 10.1922, 1 ,429,1Q9 PatentedSept. 12, 1922.

13 SHEETS-SHEET I2- I JI \VI 7 Attormf E.-SCHNEIDER. TRAIL CARRIAGE GUN MOUNTED ON ENDLESS TRACKS FOR VARYING THE HEIGHT 0F THE LINE OF FIRE OF THE GUN.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 10,1922a Patented Sept. 12, 1922.

13 5HEETS-SHEET 13.

/ Attorneyfi Patented sea. 12, 1922.

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ATENT'O .nuonnnsonnnrnna, or rints, rnnivon ASSIGNOR To somrnrnnnea cm, or rams,

a FRANCE, a Lrrrrrnnaornrsroox COMPANY'DF ERANCE.

TRAIL-CARRIAGE GUNMOUNTEIJ on ni intnss TRACKS non vagavrne THE? HEIGHT on THE LINE or FIRE or THEGUN.

Application filed July 10,

To (ZZZ whom it'miag concern: i 1,

lBe it known that I, Eoeinvn Sonnnroen, a citizen ot-the Republic "of France residing at Paris, F ranee, have invented new and: use ful improvements in apparatus in and relating to trail-carriage guns mounted on endless tracks for a varying the height of the line of fire oi. the guinuwhiclr is ,fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention has torv its object to provide improved apparatus for, varying the height of thevline of fire of a gun eompr'is ing a trail carriage mounted on endless tracks. 1

According to this invention:a-nintermedh ate mechanism is interposed between the gun carriage proper (or any member fixed to the said gun carriage) and the endless track trucks. or the pur poseot varying the heightof the line of tire, the gun carriage is caused to turn around the point of support of the carriage trail tail on the ground, by the action of the aforesaid'interposedmechanism when the latter is actuated." Intth-is manner a'ohange of relative position is produced between the gun carriage head and the endless tracks, eitherhy a turning movement of the endless traeks; around the can riage axlelin which case the endlesstraeks bear upon one of their two heels) or by the carriage axle being ralsed iii-the trucks which are adapted for thispurpose. h

I 1 tion 0t maximum rise of theline of fire.

In the accompanying dravv1ngs,:-

Figures 1 to 8 illustratea first constructional exampleof theinvention. 1 Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevationof the gun carriage in itslowest position. v

Figure 2 is a correspondingplan. 5 Figure 3 is asect-ion taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1. ,1 v i 3 Figures 41 and 5 are partial plans'showing the mechanism tonraising the line of; fire in different positions of operation. i i

Figures 6 and 7 are longitudinal ,eleva tions showing thegun carriage. respect ely in an intermediate position and in the posi- Figure 8 is a partial section taken along the line 8 8 of Figure l. 1

Figures 9 to 12, inclusive, illustrate, a modified form of the intermediate 1n-eeha nism that, is interposed between the gunearria e and the endless t-racktruoks igure 9, is la p artial seetional elevation 1922. Serial No. 573,877.:

of janendless track truck and the intermediate mechanism. l a (Figure 10 is "a corresponding tr0nt ele vation.

, Figure 11, is a section taken along the line 11511 of Figure 9. i V

Figure 12 isa similar section showing the relative ol'iangein the, positions of some of the nieohanism during operation. i q Figures 13 to 18 illustrate a second oon ,structional example of the invention.

Figure 13 is a longitudinal elevation of the gun carriage in battery position with its lowestline of fire.

F igurel l is aplan partly in section taken along the line 141 1 of Figure Figure 15 isan elevation otthegun carriage in battery position with the gun barrel at its highestelevation. 1

Figures 16 and 17 are respectively a longitudinal. elevation and an end view of the gun carriage situated in battery position on very uneven ground, the'horizontal position of the carriage axle being assured ne ertheless, by a suitable adjustment of one of the endless tracl: trucks hyymeansoi -the intermediate mechanism forming the subject-matter of the invention. v Figure 18 is an elevation of the gun carriage put into condition for road transport.

Figures 19 andQO illustrate in longitudinal elevation a thirdconstructional example intwo different positions 'Figure 21 is a detail section taken along the line 21 -21 of Figure 19.

Figure 22 is a longitudinal elevation of a modified form' of the constructional example just above described. I

Figures 23 and 2 1 are part sections taken respectively along the lines 23 23 and 24 of Figure 3 i Referring to Figs. 1" to 8, inclusive, A isthe gun carriage trail in the head of \vhieh the carriage axle B is mount-ed by means of its square portion, B are cylindrical portions of'the said axle on which the trucks C can turn, which support the axles (Z ande of the two wheels D, E, that serve as guides for the endless ehains or tracks F. s i i j The intermediate mechanism by means or" which the height of theline of fire can be varied, comprises in this examplea pair of seotorsG .ivhich aregfixed on the projecting i fittedupon the tenons' H, H" by means ofa prisesftwo inclines a e/arranged at the opends B? of the C there is articiilated a as alfra'd-iali p an not t ca riage 3X16, around pivot pins 70,,- h'Q- Eac-h of these tenons carries lug 1, respectively, which a spring 2' has a tendency .to push outwards into en'gag'enaent withfthatone of theynotches g g opposite which itlhas been brought. An operating lever J -"c'an 'he corresponding socket' Each sector Gfcornposite endso'f the trackv'of the 11115531:

v at

when it is desired to raisethe lin c'f-f are, v first the forked member Klisunscrewedsnd placed lnto the position:shown-infF1guteu' i Instantly the lug I is caused-byth'e" at Fo -travelling overthe ground, the notches tion "of its spring '8, to-enter tlie iiotchi g (Figures 1, 2 and'3). jfThe operating letters J' are then. fitted on" to-the tenonsfH cure 3), and tilted in; the direction-of the "f f It 'is to be understood'that "these ep'er a'tions. are performed simultaneously the l two endless'tracks. While the endless trae'lcs v whichhturns on-the trail tail as When the "lugs; 11 have come opposite it be :desired'; to raise the lines-1a hie arrow into: the} position shown in F igures' s: and a; r Onthen Inovingthe lever in the direction p i as.viewed-Lin,Figure 'tk.Then the lever J is turnedto' the left; or counter-clockwise; as viewed-in Figure 10. iWhen the" levers '3 have been turned through 90' the lugs] joffth'e t'e'n'onsl H? willijhav "entered" the 'o tthe arrow in Figure 1', the re's'pectiveiend less trackis'caused-toflturn around the point. where the wheel E s bearing upon gro'und; a

are turning. around the carriage'axl'e ter-rlses together with the gun' carr notches; g theypwillenter "the latter;

the'Par't-S! will isfm men eg-,in'fths pro-I sition'shown i fii i c r still more; the levers ie; removed from th'etenons H, and arefi'tte'd on to: the tenons H {this position is indicated in dot and dash; lines in Figure 6. ,Then, starting fronrthisposition,the leversjcanbe movediin the direc- 'tion of the arrow in Fignjrefi afteifthey have been tiltedfl inwardly order to disengage i the lugs from the notches g. ""lvhen'thel'ugs carriage'axle and are formed -.'With11OtcheS9 9 I To each truck P r I 9 tsn n 1H5; xt n ing radially with relationfto lithe ,c'arria'geaxle, or more. i strictly speakingfrmovable "each fin'an I have entered the notches g the parts will i have assumed the positionsshown in Figure 7. I

r Referring to Figs. 9 to 12, inelusive,'the

, characteristic feature of thefin'odification' il lustrated therein is the interposition between the endless tracks and the articulated tenons (serving for the operative engagement of the operating levers) of a speed-reducinggear 'forenablingathe operating lever to describe an angle that is amultiple of the angle described byz-t-hetruclnl In the eX- ample showm the gear, which is known per se," is 1 such" that the angle 5 described" bythQ lever is twice the angle described by" the truck C around the axis of the carriageiaxle, y I

:For this purpose the tenons, "four in number -H,--=H-, H H? are] articulated :in abox L V which is pivoted by means-eta pivot pin L I v 35 i his pivot pin L iseccentric' to the axis of .j thecarriage axle B, and carriestwo rollers in a bracket N fixed to" the'carriage axle B.

M',. M1 that are rotatably' mounted-on pins Im, 472/5 equidistant i from the pivot pin 'L".

These rollers are always engage'din one "or thexother of right-angled slot guides C; C fixed to the truck CV vThe truck G :has notches g, g", 9 into which enter successively the lugs 71, i, i ifliprojectinglirom,the

te'nons engagingv the operating levers; 'Z

Normally,- when the gunicarriage hasbeen fbr'ought into battery positionwith theilow- I est line offire,theparts occupy the positions shown in-FiguresQ, 10 and 11. Thenot ch 'g which, for travelling nver the ground, is

covered upby'a fixingflnemberK operable f;

byg'means of'a screw k mo'unted in theltruclz C,"is."uncovered when it isi-fdesired to "oper ate the intermediate position for the purpose 1 -ofrai's'ingtheline of fire?" Each 'lever 'Jlis then fitted upon the' corresponding tenon-H Pi which istilted outwardly or to.the"-right notches g; Owing to the speed-reducing and the truck Qthe'latter will have tui hed I J truckC; thejg-positionshownin Figure'lQ.

' If it isndesiredlgto continue .to raise the height of-theiline of fire, the lev ersl are removed from theKtenons' 'Hand"are fitted i upon the tenonsjI-Ifl' the operationjust ab described i's repeated; Then 'by 'a cti'i'at" in succession the tenons'I-If and H," the placement; of these! :tenon's will cause: gunfcarri'age: tofr I maximum heighttifthe line of the.

'gear..interposedbetween the te'n'on-carri i L I v a *only through an angle of t5-,-since{the rollendless track trucks, comprises, on the carground. Similarly if the carriage axle riage axle B (which is fixed with relation to the carriage head), two helically toothed quadrants G centred on the axis of the car riage axle on which they are fixed. With the teeth of these quadrants there can be brought into mesh worms 0 supported by spindles 0 which are in their turn carried by the trucks C, being mounted for instance, in the hollow axle (Z of one of the wheels D of the respective truck. T he meshing of a worm O with its respective quadrant G, can be efifected at will by turning the supporting box P of the worm around the spindle 0 by means of a swivelling adjusting screw Q, one of the screwed stems g of which is pivoted to a link P fixed to the box P whereas the other screwed stem is pivoted to a bracket C fixed to the truck.

If it is desired to raise the line of fire, when the parts are in the position shown in Figures 13 and 14 where the worm O is shown in mesh with its respective toothed quadrant, it is sufficient to cause the worms 0 to travel over their quadrants by actuating them for this purpose by means of handwheels 0 fixed on the spindle 0, so that they transmit the motion imparted to the latter, to a pinion meshing with a pinion O fixed to the worm 0.

As the worms 0 travel along their quadrants G, the trucks C turn on the points of support of the endless track wheels E upon the ground as centres. At the same time these points of support move towards the rear of the gun carriage, so that the latter is caused to turn around its anchoring point as a centre. A mutual guidance may be provided between each truck C and its quadrant. G, for instance, as shown in the drawings, by means of a rib C of the truck which remains always in engagement in an areshaped slot G of the quadrant.

If the gun carriage is placed in battery position on perfectly flat ground, the two worms 0 must be moved preferably both at the same time, through equal angles along their respective toothed quadrants in order that the carriage axle B shall remain horizontal in all the raised positions of the line of fire.

If, on the contrary, the gun carriage is placed in battery position on very uneven grounds, a horizontal position of the carriage axle B can always be assured by inclining the two trucks (l through different angles by suitably actuating the respective intermediate mechanism O G.

In this respect Figures 16 and 17 show one of the endless chains or tracks resting upon substantially horizontal ground, whereas the other endless track is inclined by a suitable angle to restore the horizontal position of the carriage axle B notwithstanding the very irregular cross-sectional contour of the should happen to assume an inclination to the horizontal during the firing of a shot, the said axle can be returned intoits proper horizontal position.

For travelling over the ground (Figure 18) the worms 0 are disengaged from the toothed quadrants O by operating the swivelling adjusting screws Q in the proper direction. The trucks C are then free to rock around the carriage axle B in order to adapt themselves to the varying longitudinal contour of the ground.

The pivotal spindle of the worms 0 need not necessarily be mounted in the axle of the guide wheel D of the respective endless chain or track. A suitable support may be provided for it at a suitable point of the truck nearest the axis of the carriage axle 13; thus allowing the use of toothed quadrants G of smaller radius, as indicated in dot-and-dash lines in Figure 13.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 19 to 21. the intermediate mecha nism interposed between the gun carriage and the endless track trucks, comprises in this example, in each truck C, a slot guide R serving to guide an axle box B in combi' nation with devices by means of which the said axle box can be moved up and down in its slot guide, and can be held in place at any desired point of the latter. For the purpose of raising the line of fire, each axle box, as shown in Figures 19 to 21, niay con tain a removable stub shaft S fitting in the axle box or in the hollow carriage axle B, and provided with a pinion S which, when inserted, meshes with a rack C formed on the truck parallel to the slot guide R.

The holding of the axle boxes in the desired positions may be assured by means of holding keys T which are inserted in sockets C C, C provided at different levels in the respective trucks C. Figure 20 shows the gun carriage when it has been moved into the position where the line of fire is highest.

Another embodiment of the constructional example just above described is illustrated in Figs. 22 to 24:, inclusive.

In this example the axle boxes B serve as lodgments for two nuts 5 in which work act-uating screws U pivoted at their upper ends a to their respective true-ks C. Each nut 11 carries a pinion Z). The two pinions Z) can be actuated both at the same time for screw 20 ing the nuts along their screws U, by means of a gear comprising a pinion b meshing with the two pinions b and fixed on a stub shaft Z) journalled in the axle box B The same shaft 6 carries a bevel pinion b meshing with a pinion b journalled in the carriage axle B. This pinion can be actuated by means of a detachable hand-wheel S fitting with a square portion in a sleeve fixed to the pinion 6 Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same isto be performed, we declare that what we claim is :v

1. A trail gun carriage mounted. on endless-track trucks, comprising an axle rotatably mounted on said trucks fonsupporting said carriage, members mounted on said axle and having operative engagement with said trucks, and manually operable means whereby the trucks may be turned about said axle. V

2. In a gun carriage, the-combination of an endless-track truck, an axle rotatably mounted on said truck, a trail secured to said axle, a carriage head supported on said trail, a member secured to said axle, and means secured to said truck and operatively engaging said member whereby a relative displacement between the carriage head and said truckmay be produced.

In a gun carriage, the combination of a truck, an axle mounted in said truck, a trail secured to said axle, a carriage head mounted on said trail, a notched quadrant secured to said axle and means securedto said truck and operatively engaging said quadrant whereby said truck may be turned around said axle.

4. In a gun carriage, the combination with an axle of a trail secured to said axle, an endless track truck mounted on said axle, means operatively engaging said. truck to raise and lower said axle whereby said carriage may be turned in a substantially vertical plane on the bearing point of the trail on the ground, and means for locking the carriage and trail in different relative positions.

5. In a gun carriage, the combination of an axle, a trail secured to said axle, an endless track truck movably mounted on said axle, and means ope-ratively engaging said truck to raise and lower said axle whereby the carriage may be moved about the bearing point of said trail on the ground to vary the height of the line of fire.

6. A trail gun carriage comprising an endless track truck, an axle mounted on said truck for supporting said carriage, a trail secured to said axle and providing a fixed bearing point on the ground, and means operatively engaging said truck to raise and lower said axle for relatively displacing said carriage and truck about said bearing point to vary the height of the line of fire.

7. A trail gun carriage comprising an endless track truck, an axle mounted on said truck, a trail secured to said axle and providing a fixed bearing point on the ground, and means secured to said truck for turning the. truck in a substantially vertical plane about said axle.

Dated this 16th day of December, 1921.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

EUGENE SCHNEIDER.

Witnessesi ANDRE MosTIoKnn, LOUIS GARDET. 

